Optimising the quality and yield of spelt and other specialty grains under organic production
Project ID:
06P283
Project type:
Research
Start date:
01/07/2006
Completion date:
30/06/2009
Project status:
Current
Project leader:
Ms Robyn NEESON, Yanco Agricultural Institute
Lead agency:
NSW DPI
Locations:
Cootamundra District Office
Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute
Yanco Agricultural Institute
Project Details
Objectives:
Potentially new and more reliable cultivars of spelt that are better adapted to organic production will be provided to industry. Improved agronomic information on optimal sowing dates, sowing rates and P requirement to optimise the yield and quality of spelt, Kamut® (khorasan wheat) and cereal rye. Greater confidence in organic production requirements and techniques for these grains will lead to a more sustainable organic grain industry that is better able to expand to its market potential. This information will provide producers (organic and conventional) with alternative cropping and market opportunities for marginal cropping zones (soils of low nutrient capacity).
Methodology:
The project consists of 8 experiments which will be conducted in three areas: i. Genetics, ii. Crop Nutrition, and iii. Agronomy.
i. Genetics During Year 1, an experiment (G1) will be conducted at Yanco Organic Site (under drip irrigation) to assess and seed increase approximately 96 accessions of spelt. Selection criteria will include yield, growth habit, maturity, crop morphology and domestication characteristics such as lodging and shattering. Wheat, barley, oats and triticale will be included in the test lines as reference crops (Controls) and, if sufficient seed is available, the entries will be replicated 3 times. In Year 2, the top 46 selections from Year 1 will be field evaluated and seed increased in a second experiment (G2) at Yanco and Rutherglen Organic Sites and, if sufficient seed is available, on an organic farm at Cootamundra. Additional selection criteria in G2 will be grain quality (protein, milling and processing characteristics). In Year 3, a third experiment (G3) will evaluate the best 20 spelt lines, plus reference (Control) crops at Yanco Organic Site, Rutherglen Organic Site, and on organic farms at Cootamundra, Coleambally (irrigated), and Grafton. The lines will be compared for yield and quality (protein, processing characteristics, and nutritive value). Field days will be held following each experiment on each experimental site as the crops near maturity.
ii. Nutrition Spelt , Kamut® and cereal rye are purported to be more resilient to soil nutrient limitation than traditional bread wheat. During year 1 one glasshouse experiment (P1) will be conducted at Yanco Agricultural Institute to compare the P response of spelt (3 landraces), Kamut® (1 selection), cereal rye (commercial variety) and traditional bread wheat. The glasshouse experiment will therefore provide preliminary information to substantiate whether such claims are likely to include P nutrition. In year 2, at two sites, three top-performing lines of spelt will be established over 5 levels of P fertility (P2). Biomass, biomass P and yield will be compared with soil available P Treatments will be replicated 3 times. A field day will showcase the trial. In year 3 a similar trial (P3) will be established at a further 2 sites. Sites will contrast different soil types. Collectively the experiments will deliver information on the optimal soil test P for yield of spelt, which can be compared to traditional wheat. The information gained from the P experiments will enable organic farmers to make informed decisions about paddock selection for spelt, their P fertiliser management, and potential performance of spelt on their farms. The experiments on P are necessary because of the oft sub-optimal status of P on organic cereal producing farms, and necessary for development of an effective agronomic package.
iii. Crop Agronomy The third area of research in this project will investigate agronomic characteristics of the spelt genotypes and their adaptability to organic farming systems. In Year 2 (2007), Experiment (A1) to be conducted at Yanco and Rutherglen Organic Sites, will investigate the effects of three sowing dates and two different sowing rates on the yield and quality of three spelt landraces. The competitive ability of the cereals against weeds will be defined by scoring weed biomass within each agronomic treatment. In Year 3, Experiment A2 will repeat the time and rate of sowing treatments for the 5 top performing spelt genotypes from Experiments G3 and P2.
Industry relevance:
Due to overall world increases in grain production, the international competitiveness of Australia’s cereal grain production sector is coming under increased pressure. Consequently, the development of niche markets and adding value to raw commodities is seen as a priority. Market demand is for products which offer increased convenience, variety, novelty, health benefits and environmental soundness. Organic products, both unprocessed and processed, fulfil these requirements. With the increasing awareness of the link between diet and health, there is growing demand for specialty grains and their products within the health food sector. It is claimed that specialty grains such as spelt, cereal rye, and Kamut® exhibit superior nutritional attributes to other more common cereals such as wheat. It is these nutritional claims that have sparked the greatest interest, particularly in the health food sector. The greatest demand is for organically produced specialty grains, however, supply constraints are frustrating industry expansion. This is largely being attributed to low producer confidence due to lack of adapted varieties relevant agronomic information and market irregularities. Some processors suggest that if supply irregularities were solved, increased confidence in the market place could see the demand for these grains double over the next few years. The yields of specialty grains is generally low, indicating that there is potential to improve yields either through crop selection and/or by improvements to crop nutrition. Yield benefits, however, must not compromise unique attributes of these grains.
The information contained in this web page is based on knowledge and
understanding at the time of writing. However, because of advances in knowledge, users are
reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to
check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of New South Wales
Department of Agriculture or the user’s independent adviser.
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